Villa stop Chelsea in their tracks

Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea:Chelsea missed out on the chance to go back to the top of the Premier League as they were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa.

Goals from debutant Zat Knight and Gabriel Agbonlahor condemned the Blues to defeat at Villa Park.

Earlier in the day Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky were on target as Arsenal beat Portsmouth 3-1 at the Emirates.

The only cloud on the scintillating display was the 50th-minute dismissal of Philippe Senderos, who was shown a straight red for denying Kanu a clear goalscoring chance on the edge of the box.

Adebayor slotted the hosts into an early lead from the penalty spot after England 'keeper David James felled Robin Van Persie before Fabregas made it 2-0 with a neat finish from close range.

Rosicky took advantage of slack Pompey defending in the second-half to put Arsenal 3-0 up before Kanu pulled one back against his former club, but the Gunners ran out comfortable winners.

Benni McCarthy scored his first goal of the season to give Blackburn the points against Manchester City.

He grabbed the winner in the 13th minute after Kasper Schmeichel had parried a header from Roque Santa Cruz.

Tugay of Blackburn and City skipper Richard Dunne were both sent off after receiving two bookings in a rousing encounter at Ewood Park.

Tugay was cautioned for fouls on Emile Mpenza and Dietmar Hamann within two minutes of each other 10 minutes after the interval, with Dunne following him down the tunnel 10 minutes later after a lunge at Santa Cruz.